[thomaspaine]

If you actually want to make your startup work, avoid freelancing. It's way too easy to get sucked into spending all of your time consulting, and it's pretty difficult to be fully mentally engaged in multiple projects. Also, the hardest part of freelancing is when you're just starting out. If you don't already have clients or a reputation, you'll spend all of your time trying to find clients and bidding on projects.

During this time, you won't be making any money, and the money you do make will probably be shitty because your clients will be the kind you find on craigslist that want you to build them "a facebook for X" in exchange for a sandwich. More importantly, all of this time will be time you didn't spend developing your startup.

[oldgregg]

I second this, pick up work when you absolutely have to and no more. I usually tell everyone I'm always open to contract work but then set my hourly high enough that it creates a nice filter.

[mdolon]

And if you do have to freelance, make a portfolio online with samples of your work. If you don't have any good samples, make them up for dummy companies. Print business cards that have your contact info and what you do written in plain English. Don't spend money on advertising (especially if you don't have any to start with), rather send messages to everyone you know notifying them of your new offerings and pass out business cards at every opportunity. Use Facebook, Twitter and other social networks to your advantage in spreading the word about what you offer.

I've also heard offering commissions for referrals works but I have yet to get any leads like that (maybe it's just my friends?).

[xefyr]

This is my general opinion regarding freelancing as well; I have every intention of building a product company and no interest in "consulting". Would you say, if worse comes to worst, it's better to get a 'day-job' outside of the field than to pursue contact/freelance gigs coding? If freelancing too much of a distraction to pursue at all?